Past Love

With candy and flowers aside and Valentine’s Day over, end of day reflections often come to mind. As the day and mind quiets down of any holiday, very often past memories come to the surface.

One in particular comes to mind for me from quite a number of years ago. The week before Valentine’s Day brought about some hustle and bustle with my teenage son. He was in stealth mode with me right behind him asking lots of questions.

·        “I need a ride”, he said

·        “Where to?”

·        “Down the street.”

·        “Why?”

And this line of questioning went on as so often it will do with a teenager.

·        “I wanted to order some flowers for Valentine’s Day.”

·        “Who is she?”

·        “Who’s who?”

·        “I’ve saved my own money.”

·        “That’s not what I asked.”

And this line of questioning went on as so often it will do with a teenager.

By mid-week I caved. If the flowers weren’t ordered in time, they definitely wouldn’t arrive in time and that could be the worst outcome of all. I drove him to the florist shop, waited in the car, trying not to crane my neck to see him through the window and biting my tongue on his return to not ask any more questions.

I waited for Valentine’s Day to pass, hoping that information would filter my way as so often it will do with a teenager. Mid-afternoon on the ‘big day’ I got a knock on the door. With bated breath I answered. I opened the door to find the florist with the most gorgeous bouquet of flowers I’d ever seen. Surprised to see them, wondering if the address was reversed by mistake, I took the liberty to open the envelope.

I cautiously looked in both directions first, in stealth mode, in case he was looking. I was also holding my breath to see who the lucky lady would be. Well, here goes.

It turned out that the lucky lady was me! You could have knocked me over with a feather! The card simply stated “To Mom, Happy Valentine’s Day, with love. I had to first catch my breath, then sit down. With a wipe of a tear I reread the card…barely believing my eyes.

I later took pictures for proof! I’ve since lost them, but the memories and emotions of that single moment are forever marked in time.

This time the line of questioning was reversed as so often it will do with a teenager.

·        “Well, do you like them?” he asked.

·        “Yes, they’re beautiful.” I mumbled.

·        “Good, I’m glad.” he said.

I remember hugs… and I’ll always remember this day like it happened yesterday. We’re still in love today! J

Cathy